Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Braving the 98 degree temperature, Ben cheerfully helped me move this dresser down to Liberty House today. I did remember to take "before" shots, but forgot the "afters" this time! Here's the one picture I got with my little flip phone. I couldn't get a head-on shot, because my little room is too tiny!

I bought this dresser at a shed sale on a farm near Cordova a couple of months ago (I hauled home a Jeep-ful that day). It was sound structurally, but definitely needed help in the pretty department. Here are a couple of "before's"--bad paint job, mismatched cheap hardware, and in need of a good scrubbing.

I'm currently working on a tall dresser that I bought at a neighbor's garage sale last weekend (and very happy with how it's going), though by afternoon I just want to watch TV and drink iced tea.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

As simple as it is, it took me a few months to decide what to do with this little bench. I finally sanded off all the finish (varnish and stain), dry brushed on Old White, and then went with the striped red fabric for the seat. I think it has a nice "beachy" look now.

I filled in for Joanie down at Liberty House on Friday (which was fun!). It gave me time to get my little room clean and restocked. I am happy to learn that the yellow and white striped RCA cabinet sold Saturday--and even got to see pictures of it in its new home! ( Thanks, Angel!)

I've been working on a dresser this weekend--using some Annie Sloan paint in Provence (a turquoise). I kept trying out different finishes on it (wax, glaze, etc.)--not quite satisfied yet--so that means a lot of re-painting and layers building up. Ben says that's why my pieces get so heavy . . .

Monday, July 9, 2012

As I headed out to church last Sunday (in white pants), my mom called to say there was some furniture with free signs down the street from me. Unable to resist, I hopped in the Jeep and found this old RCA Victor Victrola cabinet (model 3-HS-6)! I loaded it myself (some how keeping white pants clean) and still made it to church before announcements were done!

Ben helped with repairs and clean up. I sanded the vaneer off the top and refinished the very pretty wood underneath. Then I primed and painted the base off white. I originally was going to add black stripes, but when I got the yellow painter's tape on, I liked the white/yellow combination so went with yellow paint. The inside got white paint and we (Ben) put a new piece on the back. The original hardware just needed a little polishing.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Sounds like the 4th was a busy time down at Liberty House (in spite of the heat)! I managed to bash my little toe on a piece of furniture (me?? extra furniture around here??), so didn't do much walking about town--but here's how things were looking in my little room at Liberty House.

I found this old waterfall desk beside a dumpster a few weeks ago. It was covered with contact paper and the drawers were full of little plywood dividers. I didn't even take a before shot because it didn't seem to hold a lot of promise, but I just love how it turned out. I used stripper and sanded like crazy on the top and drawers and the wood was amazing! The rest of the base I painted with Annie Sloan Old White. The hardware is the original, but I sanded it down to the silver--much better.

I did this little desk at the same time and pretty much the same way. The cute little lamp is from Rachel (thanks!).

Welcome . . .

"I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens, but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string."--"Anne Shirley" in Anne of AvonLea by Lucy Maud Montgomery